Interview: Musician Riho Furui Talks City the Animation, Songwriting, and More

#interview #music #sidebar October 11, 2025

by Rakha Alif

While fall charges ahead at full speed with a fresh lineup of anime, summer left a lasting impression on audiences with a catalogue filled with heavy-hitters and modern classics—one of them being CITY THE ANIMATION from Kyoto Animation. Of course, every anime KyoAni puts out arguably becomes a standout title, but CITY was just a different beast altogether. Not only is it KyoAni’s first non-sequel anime in six years, but it is also a new collaboration project between KyoAni and mangaka Keiichi Arawi—who is known for Nichijou.

Among its many charms, one of the most beloved aspects of CITY THE ANIMATION was its opening theme song—”Hello” by Riho Furui. Its upbeat, catchy tone perfectly encapsulates the show’s vibrant and bright energy with a touch of warmth and nostalgia. Thanks to “Hello”, Furui Riho’s name quickly spread across the internet and throughout the global anime community, winning the hearts of many anime fans.

We were lucky enough to have a chance to talk with the talented rising star herself about “Hello”, her background in the gospel genre, and everything else in between.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.

Q: Congrats on the release of “Hello”! How do you feel about the listeners’ reception so far?

Furui: I'm truly happy that so many people have enjoyed this song. What stood out to me the most was how the song, being used as the opening theme for an anime, introduced my music to a lot of new listeners.

city the animation opening theme — "Hello" CD Jacket

Q: The song has also been making waves outside Japan. Did you expect “Hello” to receive such a warm response from overseas listeners as well?

Furui: I had hoped that the anime would help me reach a wider audience, but to be honest, I never imagined I’d have the opportunity to be interviewed by an international media like this. Once again, I'm truly grateful that I had the chance to create this song.

Q: Now let’s talk about the song itself! How did the initial offer come to you, and what was your first reaction when you learned you’d be contributing a theme song for an anime for the first time—especially an anime from the Kyoto Animation?

Furui: I found out that I was one of the candidates for the opening theme of CITY THE ANIMATION around the summer of 2023. At the time, I didn’t think I would be chosen, so when I heard that it had been officially decided, I was genuinely surprised and very happy.

However, it was my first time ever creating music for an anime based on an original manga, and since it’s a popular work by Keiichi Arawi-sensei— and also Kyoto Animation’s first new project in a while—I couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious, wondering, “Am I really capable of writing a song that’s good enough?”

Q: I heard KyoAni and Keiichi Arawi-sensei initially considered using another single of yours—”LOA”, but eventually felt it wasn’t the right fit. What were the considerations behind that decision, and how did this specific move involve the creation of “Hello”?

Furui: When I first met with Director Taichi Ishidate, Keiichi Arawi-sensei, and the rest of the team for a planning meeting, I asked them what kind of song they were looking for. They told me that they really liked my song “LOA” and said that they wanted something similar. Hearing that made me incredibly happy.

However, since “LOA” had already been released, I couldn’t simply offer it for the project. Creating a new song with a similar feel turned out to be much harder than I had imagined, and I remember feeling a lot of pressure—like I had to create something even better than “LOA”.

Q: Did Keiichi Arawi-sensei, as the original creator, share any particular input for the song?

Furui: There weren’t any specific instructions regarding the sound, but they did give me a few key ideas. They wanted a song that “people of all ages could sing,” with “easy-to-understand lyrics,” and something “evergreen” (a song that would be loved for a long time).

They also said that the image they had in mind was something like KochiKame [Tokyo Beat Cops]. Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen-mae Hashutsujo—or KochiKame—is a well-known anime that used to air on TV, and I believe they meant they were looking for something that would feel similarly familiar and loved across generations.

Q: Was there any breakthrough moment or eureka moment that led to the creation of “Hello”?

Furui: As we continued our meetings, I gradually started to get a vague idea of what kind of song I wanted to create, but I still hadn’t been able to shape it into actual music. At the time, I was going back and forth between my home in Sapporo and Tokyo. One day, while staying at a hotel in Tokyo, the melody suddenly came to me.

Actually, it wasn’t just the melody—the entire song began playing vividly in my head, so clearly that I almost felt like, “Whose song is this?” It was very surreal.

I quickly recorded the idea on a voice memo, and once I got back home, I began developing it into a full song in earnest.

Q: Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I noticed the sound of rain midway through the song. If that’s indeed the case, why did you decide to include it?

Furui: Yes, that’s exactly right. This anime is set in the summer, but in Japan, there’s a rainy season called tsuyu that comes just before summer begins. Once the rainy season ends, the real summer starts—bringing clear skies and a sense of emotional brightness as well. There’s a natural shift in both the season and our mood.

In our everyday lives, too, we all experience rainy days—moments of sadness, hardship, or things we just want to escape from. But I believe that even those rainy days will eventually pass.

In this story, the characters' joyful moments unfold with the arrival of summer. I created this piece with the hope that, for those watching, the rain in their hearts will one day clear as well.

Q: When I listen to “Hello,” I feel the words “reunion,” “innocence,” and “fun” radiating strongly as the themes, both from the lyrical and melody perspectives. Was this something you consciously aimed for, or did it come to life naturally from the nature of the original work?

Furui: During our meetings, there was a strong emphasis on the keywords “fun” (tanoshii) and “cute” (kawaii). I kept those ideas in mind as I worked on the song, but as I focused solely on that direction, I started to feel that something was missing.

This being Kyoto Animation’s first new project in a while, I began thinking more deeply about what this work means— not just for the fans who had been waiting for it with anticipation, but also for the team at Kyoto Animation and the emotions they were pouring into it. That made me want to create something more heartfelt—something warm that could gently resonate with the hearts of those watching.

And that’s when another important keyword emerged: “a sense of nostalgia that reminds you of childhood”. That innocent excitement we used to feel when we were kids—as we grow older, life gets busy, and we gradually forget that feeling. Through this anime and its music, I wanted to help people reconnect with it.

Life can be hard and full of sadness at times, but if listening to this song helps someone remember the pure excitement and warmth they once felt —even just a little—through this work, then I couldn’t be happier.

Q: The music video has now become your most-viewed video on YouTube. Congrats! How did you and Director Issei Terada-san come up with the concept?

Furui: While working on the song, I had such a strong image of the anime’s opening sequence in my mind that it was hard for me to imagine anything else. Normally, I would come up with a concrete visual concept myself and have the team create something based on that. But this time, I left most of it up to the director.

In the end, I think the result is a really unique and creative sequence—designed as a single continuous shot—and it perfectly captures the world of CITY.

Q: You mentioned on your Twitter that episode #5 of CITY was incredible, which many fans agreed with, myself included. What was your first impression when you watched such a mind-blowing episode?

Furui: To be honest, I didn’t quite understand it at first (laughs). I kept wondering, “What am I even watching?” (laughs). I had never seen an anime use that kind of technique before, and I really felt that this work is truly committed to exploring the idea of “fun” to the fullest. I think it’s amazing.

Q: While you handled the OP for CITY, the ED is performed by TOMOO-san with her song “LUCKY”. I noticed you two are following each other on Instagram, so I'm just curious—were you already acquainted with her prior to this project, and did you reach out to each other once you found you’d both be involved?

Furui: I met TOMOO for the first time at the advance screening of CITY. Since we’re both signed to the same label and I’ve been a fan of hers, I was really happy to be able to work on this project together.

By the way, I might have listened to her song “LUCKY” even more than my own “Hello” (laughs).

Q: You’ve gone on record several times saying your roots are in gospel music, with you watching a gospel performance in Sapporo with your mom and joining a church choir when you were a child. Could you tell us more about your background with the genre and the role of your gospel teacher, Sayo Oyama-san?

Furui: When I was 11 years old, my mother got to know the pastor of a church near our home, and I found out that a gospel live event was going to be held there. At the time, I was interested in singing, but I didn’t really understand what gospel music was. Encouraged by my mother, I went to the live event, and I saw kids around my age singing joyfully. Seeing them made me feel a strong sense of envy, and before I knew it, I had joined the choir myself.

Looking back now, since my mother also loved singing, maybe she actually wanted to join more than I did (laughs).

The first live I saw was a joint concert between the choir led by Sayo Oyama-san and the choir I belonged to. Even back then, Sayo-san was a charismatic director leading a large choir and was highly respected by everyone. She had exceptional musical talent and sense, and for me, she was like a mentor I aspired to follow. Being able to create music together with my admired Sayo-san now is incredibly moving for me.

Q: Your songs blend the easy-listening and catchy elements of J-pop with the soulful characteristics of your gospel roots. How do you strike the perfect balance to bring out the best of both worlds?

Furui: To be honest, the groovy rhythms of gospel music come naturally to me without even thinking about it. In fact, I’m not really sure how to hold back that feeling (laughs). I also love the ’90s and the 2000s R&B, so those elements naturally find their way into my music as well. However, since these genres are still somewhat niche in Japan, I sometimes questioned whether pursuing this path really made sense for me.

At the same time, I believe that because I was born in Japan, it’s only natural to seek out what is uniquely Japanese and what defines J-pop. That’s something I hold dear. I think the music I create now is the result of continuing to work while embracing those feelings.

Q: You lived in Canada on a working holiday for a year, and you have some English lyrics throughout your discography. Have you ever thought about making a full English song?

Furui: That is also one of my own personal goals. I’m still not very confident writing lyrics in English, but I definitely want to challenge myself to do it someday.

Q: Congrats on your ongoing nationwide tour—Dear My Friends Live Tour 2025. It’s your biggest tour to date! Interestingly, the title is taken from the very first lyrics of “Hello.” Why did you choose it as the name?

Furui: From the moment I started writing “Hello,” I had an image in my mind of everyone holding hands, smiling, and coming together as one. On this tour, some people come alone while others come with someone, but I wanted to create that space together with everyone, holding hands. At my live shows, I hope people feel a sense of unity and happiness.

Q: You once mentioned that you used to be afraid and didn’t enjoy performing live. But now, you seem to have so much fun on stage. What was the process of overcoming that fear like, and what was the turning point?

Furui: Since I started releasing songs in 2019, I pushed myself hard during live performances because I wanted more people to listen to and enjoy my music— I felt like I couldn’t afford to make mistakes. However, those pressures made performing less enjoyable, and there were times when I forgot the lyrics on stage or my mind went completely blank, which was very frightening.

But then I realized something. Trying to give 100% every time means aiming for a perfect score that I set for myself—but that score isn’t always the same from others’ perspectives. In fact, sometimes when I was around 80%, the imperfections and space left in the performance made it even better. There were even people who cried during those shows. Once I understood that it’s okay not to be perfect, I started thinking that giving 80% was enough—and that made live performances enjoyable again.

Now, I focus on trusting myself and my team, and on truly enjoying the moment.

Q: Do you think this new confidence on stage has also somehow influenced your songwriting style in some ways?

Furui: I always feel that my experiences help me grow. Hitting a wall, including on stage, is really tough, but when I overcome those challenges, I can clearly see that I’ve grown in comparison to before.

Those experiences are reflected in my lyrics, so everything feels connected. My songs are a mirror of my life. Though facing daily problems can be difficult, I believe that unless I go through more struggles than others in my singing journey, I won’t be able to write songs that truly move people’s hearts.

Q: Since we have been talking about anime and music, I have to ask you, what are some of your favorite anime, or recent ones you’ve been watching? And the same question with music—any artist or song you are into, either overseas or Japanese? I’ll share mine—Kimi no Nawa is my favorite anime of all time, so it’s only natural for me to love RADWIMPS.

Furui: Recently, I started watching an anime called Chi [Orb: On the Movements of the Earth]. It’s a really interesting series where the main character changes a lot over time. While CITY had a bright and upbeat song, I’d love to write music for a cool, edgy anime someday.

Lately, I’ve also been into indie pop, often listening to artists like Remi Wolf and Peach Tree Rascals. I’m a big fan of K-Pop as well, and I thought Chaeyoung from TWICE released an amazing solo album with an indie pop sound. It makes me really happy to see Asian music spreading globally these days.

Q: Is there an anime series (or maybe even a manga you hope might be adapted into an anime one day) you would love to contribute a theme song for—perhaps as part of your personal bucket list?

Furui: I’ve been reading One Piece every week without fail for over ten years. If I could ever get the chance to work on the series professionally someday, I would be truly thrilled!

Q: Lastly, do you have a message you’d like to share with your overseas fans?

Furui: My lyrics are in Japanese, but I’m truly grateful to have connected with so many people through this anime. I believe that the power of music can reach people’s hearts beyond language barriers. The theme I hold dear—“love”—is a universal language that transcends borders, and I am confident it allows me to connect with everyone.

Recently, I have developed a strong desire to share my music not only in Japan but also around the world. Performing on stage overseas someday and delivering my songs directly is my dream.

We would like to thank Riho-san for her kindness in taking the time to share her stories, and to her amazing team for making this interview possible. We cannot wait to see what Riho-san has in store for the future! You can keep up with her via her Instagram, X, and official YouTube channel.

"Hello" is the perfect gateway into Furui Riho's wonderful discography. Be sure to stream "Hello"—available everywhere now!